I’ve been wanting to take a martial art for years. I swordfight with an adventure camp in California called A Hard Day’s Knight, but I’d never taken a serious martial art requiring mental as well as physical discipline, and I always admired the ethic. I have many friends taking various forms, including karate, aikido, capoeira, jiu-jitsu, and Thai kick-boxing, but it wasn’t until I took a kung-fu class that I felt I’d found the dynamic I was seeking.
So I researched schools in Brooklyn, and found the USA Shaolin Temple, headed by Sifu Shi Yan Ming, whose philosophy and approach I admired. They were, serendipitiously, having a fund-raising event for the new temple they’re building, so I thought I would attend to get a feel for the place.
Except I didn’t. For no good reason. A friend called, invited me to join a bunch of her friends for dinner and a drink. And I bailed on this goal I really want. Which makes me feel wretched.
I’m going to class on Tuesday. It would have been easier to come and talk to the students at the fund-raiser. I have fears about making a fool of myself in front of others. But I missed my chance to do that. It’s sort of a punishment, but not really. Just a consequence of doing a foolish thing. Wish me luck.
